Death's Head Moth

Death's Head moth is also known as a European hawk moth (Acherontia atropos), which bears the markings resembling a human skull on its thorax.  The final design logistics and color choices came together after 3 months of revising sketches.  Once the decisions were made, the stringer prep time became the quick part of the process.  Flameworking the cabochon was an undertaking to say the least.  After 3.5 hours of work and approximately 1050 rotations with my left hand, the cabochon is complete.  At one point, I questioned my hand's strength to continue on.   Relieved once the final flame polish was complete and the cabochon entered the hot kiln.